Where is the best salon in Ireland?

That feel’s good: name your best salon where they make make you feel special

As part of this year’s Irish Times Best Shops in Ireland competition, we are asking readers where is the best salon in the country and to tell us what puts it head and shoulders above the rest.

Share with us your favourite nail bar, lash technician, hairdresser, colourist, therapist or barber. And what of the waxperts? Who does your bikini or brow wax?

We want to know what the atmosphere is like and what sets it apart from other establishments. Tell us about a staff member who lent a listening ear, or helped you revamp your look. The judges take these comments into consideration when selecting the shortlist.

Is Co Sligo home to the country’s most manicured? Almost every salon in the county has been nominated with 10 per cent of the overall votes so far in the competition coming from this corner of the northwest.

Grainne Sheridan says that the her teachings and tricks of Lorraine Kilgannon at Beautilicioushas “given the women in Dromore West and the surrounding villages a major confidence boost in the way we look by”.

Aideen Keogh goes to Urban Escape in Monkstown, Co Dublin, because it does exactly what its name suggests. “It provides a tranquil escape route from the daily grind”. She says the salon, which is a sister shop to the original in Deansgrange, is owned by “the calmest person on the planet, Tara Leigh Murtagh. “Every treatment is delivered in a calm and caring manner.”

Laura Finnegan is impressed by the level of service at newly opened The Space in Dublin’s Drumcondra. She says it has “some of the most talented, dedicated, hard working people I’ve ever met who no matter how tired or under pressure they are, they take the time to sit and talk to you.”

Readers in Kilkenny are getting behind Soma in Thomastown. Kate Hynes writes that the beauty salon was closed due to flooding after being open only six weeks, but it battled back to keep the “the women of Kilkenny sparkling”. She says owner Sinead’s “approach to skincare is holistic, encompassing nutritional advice”.

Roughly half the population of the country is male, so we want to know where you go for a hot towel shave, manly hair removal and a wet shave.

Warren the Barber’s Chop Shop is keeping the male of the species in Collon, Co Louth, looking fresh. Reader Stephen Jones says owner Warren Whelan’s “cutting and hair art is the best I’ve ever seen. Not only great hair cuts and hot towel shaves there’s great banter too.” Whelan specialises in fades and hair art and cut geometric shapes, landscapes and portraits.

With nominations pouring in it is time to get behind your favourite shop and vote for it in Best Shops 2016 at irishtimes.com/bestshops.

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